I had a '90 F350 7.3IDI E4OD that was the best truck we could find when we were looking. It served me well for a couple years, needing stuff like a vacuum pump, alternator and some glow plugs.

Living in Houston at the time it never really got cold enough for cold weather starting problems.

The E4OD was NOT one of Fords better ideas!!! Although a TPS caused most of my tranny trouble (mostly with TQ converter)

It got hard to start as it seemed to have lost prime all the time, which turned out to be the IP, and it needed enough other work that the best thing we could do was find the '03 I'm driving now!!!

There was a 6.9 5 speed truck we drove before that one and only the fact that it had 4.10 or something even worse in the rear and was doing almost 2K RPM at 50mph kept me from taking that one home!

 

Exactly why I'm saving for a Cummins. I know if I just "settle" for a f150 or a 1500, I will NEVER be totally happy with it. Same reason I am going to take longer to find one, because I know if I "settle" for a automatic, I will NEVER be happy with a Auto, because I want a manual.

 

Thanks for catching my point. I'm actually looking for a house presently, and it's even more of a challange for that. Cant' really just pick up the right house and plop it down in the right location, unless you have major $$$$ to do it!

 

I had 2 IDI Ford's, an 85 6.9 and a 90 7.3. The 6.9 was sold(traded) for the 90, only because it had a manual. That 6.9 had 230k miles, ran like a champ, and I see it daily now with over 300k. The 7.3 got sold on Ebay a couple years ago to a guy in Houston, had 240k miles then, and is still running. The 7.3 really liked glow plugs, but when I was attending college in Rhinelander, it sat unplugged at -10F numerous times and started on the first attempt each time. The 6.9 never failed to start for me, even being unplugged for 3 days straight at -5F and colder. If you maintain them, they are good trucks. They are naturally aspirated, so they don't have the kick of turbo trucks, but they aren't total piles. My 7.3 got 21 mpg with 3.55's and 265's, and both trucks were 4x4s.

 

i had a r title 350k mile crew cab dually long bed auto idi and it was great. not tons of power but i beat the snot out of it for a long time.
id buy one again.
just remember if you are hauling around 7k up hill dont plan on going any faster than 50mph
lol

 

My buddy has a 90 and he had nothing but problems trying to get that thing fired up in the morning.He did get great mileage though.Why not get an old cummins?You can find an old boiler on ebay I would think.Even a older 2nd gen are cheap now.

 

I say keep looking, there are deals out there. Sometimes you find them when your not even looking.
Did the same mfg. make the 7.3 idi and the 7.3 psd and the 6.0 psd? What does idi stand for. Thanks

 

Yes Navistar International have been making the diesel engines for Ford since 1978. IDI stands for Indirect Injection.

 

Here are my two cents.
If you want the "diesel" sound keep in mind a non turbo IDI v-8 diesel sounds much different than a direct injection turbo inline 6. The 94-98 5.9's sound even meaner, cause of the higher injection pressures. Anything 24 valve and newer is quieter. One thing about the non turbo fords is they are REALLY loud with dual straight pipes.
As far as the build of a Dodge I would not be worried. I am really a Chevy guy at heart, but the 89-93 Dodge diesel's are where its at. Dana 60/70 NP-205. Leaf springs all the way around, lockouts!, and a tractor/ truck enigine.
Any pickup that is 15 years old or so is going to have some small problems. I do not believe that a Ford is really that great either. Like has been said, get a F-350. That twin I beam is a joke. Tires don't last too long. The ZF 5 speed tranny in a Ford isn't the toughest thing around is is expensive to work on. They also have a two piece flywheel that can cause problems. They don't start too good in cold wheather, flimsy doors, they rust too, dual tanks that run fuel on the ground, there are other problems but I'll quit.
That being said if I had to choose a Ferd it would be a 97 F-350 PowerStroke 5 speed.
Just my opinion

 

I had two ford 6.9 IDI, a 1984 350 dually and last a 1984 f250 4x4. they were both good trucks and the 6.9 is a good reliable engine. the 7.3 is the exact same block as a 6.9 only borred out 110k which makes the cylander walls to thin, they flex under compression causing cavitation, this can be countered by adding chemical to the coolant. Donot acquire a used 7.3 without knowing the history on the coolant. 6.9 and 7.3 are very close as to power. faulty glow plug controlers cause glow plug failure and although
easy to replace it can get expensive. most owners replace controlers with a manual button. Also burned glow plugs can expand in the head causing head removal to extract the glow plugs.

My 6.9 had addiquate power but no comparison to the cummins, even though the addvertised power is very close.

I have heard said by others that the Dodge body is junk, however having owned two Fords and four Dodges I challange anyone to set a Ford along side my Dodge and show me the points where the Ford is better. There are some things better about each. Overall the Dodge is a better truck and it has the cummins.

Want to know more about the Ford IDI diesel trucks, go to dieselstop.com the largest site for Ford diesel trucks.
Good Luck
Dan

 

i was in this same position when i started looking for a diesel. i considered Chevy 6.2 and 6.5, the Ford 6.9 and 7.3, heck i even considered a Dodge Ram 50 with the Mitsubishi diesel.

i held out though, bought my CTD and i will never regret it.

do yourself a favor and wait for a good deal to come along on a CTD.

 

I agree about the sound of the N/A V8 diesel. They sound like a gasser with a really bad knock! However, I'd have to say the the loudest cummins is the 98.5-02 24V's. They had the highest injection pressures and with no pilot event like the HPCR trucks so they rattle the most. They certainly sound mean though.

 

All I can tell you is stay away from those things. In the early 90's my dad had an 89' f350 with a 7.3 and it was fine when it was new but things started to go downhill in a hurry after a few years. Later on I bought a 95' f250 with a little over 130,000 miles and 2 years later sold it with almost 190,000 miles on it, so unfortunatly I had it a while. The trucks are built good in my opinion better than the older dodges but the motors are JUNK. Mine never wanted to start if it was under 40 degrees, I had over $500 put into new glow plugs, harnesses, relays, switches, etc. I pretty much replaced the whole system and it still was terrible, thinking back it seems like i was working on it every weekend. They also get awful fuel economy for no more power than they produce. Stay far away, unless your gonna buy it and take the motor out immediately and drop in a cummins I wouldnt buy one. Me and my dad both have had two ford diesels each and now that I bought my cummins we both agree that it is hands down better than those fords ever could be. Just keep searching, I looked for over a month to find mine. Dont be afraid to drive a little ways to get one either, I drove 11 hours from indiana to southern mississippi to get mine. Look around on ebay, autotrader, and pick up those trader books in gas stations. Be picky, find exactly what you want and dont compromise because you will never be happy with it. Also I would stick with a 12 valve, they are cheaper to run and are plain and simple. You dont have to worry about replacing a vp 44 all the time and all the electronic crap. I love my 12 valve, it may not be new and shiny but its reliable and its paid for and the best part, it still gets 20 mpg, my old ford was lucky to get 12-13 mpg. Sorry to ramble on and on but I just hate to see somebody who was looking for a cummins settle for a ford.

 

I'd suggest you determine why you want a truck, what you're going to use it for, what is the total cost going to be, how long you anticipate keeping it. Then decide what will get the job done--as YOU see it. You're the one who gets to pay for it. You're the one who get the comments about it. Don't be influenced by others opinions, get facts.

I've got an '84 F-250 with the 6.9 and it does everything I expect/need it to do. Starts up after setting for 2 months, even in winter weather. I've got a bale stinger in the back and use it to move hay. Pulls a trailer with 6 bales just fine. I don't race it, I just work it. It gets 20 MPH and I can dispose of my drained oil in it with no problems. Rebuilt IP cost $250!

My Dodge is a totally different animal. You can't compare them. Both do what they were designed to do.

I noticed a couple Diesels in the KC craigs list just yesterday. Check them out. Email and ask for more pictures and a phone #, call and ask more questions. Pay $100 to have a reputable shop inspect it before you go to purchase if it's too far.

 

I just bought a 1994 F-350 crew cab 4x4 w/ a Turbo 7.3 IDI/5 speed for $500. It's beat up but it's a decent work truck. And it definitely has plenty of power, even with 312,000 miles on the original engine. Try finding a Dodge diesel w/ a 5 speed for that price. Plus 1st Gen. Dodges are butt ugly.